Iraqi Kurdistan Region Media Summary --

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 000434

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

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E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR PKPA PGOV ECON PINS IZ US

SUBJECT: Iraqi Kurdistan Region Media Summary --
February 8, 2007


1. (U) This is a Regional Reconstruction Team (RRT) cable.

Ansar al-Islam Plot to Murder Sulaimaniyah Security Officials
Thwarted
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2. (U) Hawlati independent newspaper published details of a plot by
three members of Ansar al-Islam to murder the Head of the
Sulaimaniyah Asayish Political Department, Hassan Noori. (Note:
Asayish are local security forces.) According to Hawlati, the plan
included a suicide bomber and two marksmen in-case the suicide
bomber was not effective. Noori told Hawlati in an interview "we
had gained information about the plan from day one and we have been
tracking it down. I think the only reason I was targeted by Ansar
al-Islam is because I have been quite insistent on cracking their
members down and stopping their terrorist activities within the
Sulaimaniyah province." All three terrorists have been arrested by
the Sulaimaniyah Asaiysh and a full investigation is being
conducted.

No Kurdish Soldiers Have Been Killed in Baghdad
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3. (U) In a statement to Hawlati newspaper, KRG-Sulaimaniyah Deputy
Minister of Region for Peshmarga Affairs, Jabbar Yawar said that so
far no one from the Sulaimaniyah Battalion of the Iraqi Army has
been killed or injured in Baghdad. (Note: This contradicts reports
in Awena newspaper last week that said 17 Kurdish soldiers who had
been killed in the fighting in Baghdad were secretly returned to the
Kurdistan Region.) Yawar said, "The recent reports on casualties
among the Kurdish soldiers in Baghdad are fabricated and very far
from the truth." He also mentioned that the Ministry has not
received any reports of Kurdish soldiers deserting the Iraqi Army.

KRG PM Calls for Fight against Corruption, Protection for
Journalists, Children
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4. (U) Newspapers today carried fuller coverage of KRG Prime
Minister Nechirvan Barzani's statement at the merger of the Justice
Ministries on February 6. Articles said Barzani asked the new KRG
Minister of Justice, Mahmood Ito (PUK member) to do an immediate
follow-up of all recently implemented legal projects. He also
called for the new merged ministry to form follow-up committees for
anti-corruption, for protection of freedom of the press and the
rights of journalists, and for the protection of the rights of women
and children.

Nishtiman "Homeland" Enterprise Zone Opens in Erbil
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5. (U) Newspapers reported on the opening of part of the Nishtiman
"Homeland" Enterprise Zone in Erbil today. The zone is located in
the heart of Erbil, and the part to be opened today will include
more than 500 office spaces for lawyers, merchants, doctors, and
contractors with all services and utilities. As soon as the whole
market is complete, it will have annual estimated revenue of $24
billion for the KRG.

NGO for Kurdish Political Prisoners Announced
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6. (U) Kurdish media reported on the establishment of the United
Political Prisoners of Kurdistan, an NGO to assist Kurdish political
prisoners and refugees as they return to the Kurdistan Region. A
ceremony was held in Erbil to mark the new NGO and was attended by
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (PUK member),KRG President Massoud
Barzani (KDP member),KRG Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani (KDP
member) and representatives from various KRG ministries and offices.
The new NGO will replace political prisoners organizations that had
previously been run by the KDP and PUK. Mahmood Ito will head the
new group.

Fuel Rations to Sulaimaniyah Government and Party Offices Cut
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7. (U) Major newspapers reported that fuel rations for government
and party offices in Sulaimaniyah will be temporarily cut by up to
90% to allow greater availability on the market for commercial and
private purposes. Abdulla Ali, an official from the Fuel Projects
Foundation said, "We have received 4,745,000 liters of kerosene,
724,816 liters of gasoline, and 660,590 liters of diesel from
Kirkuk, Basra, Iran, Ibrahim Khalil, and Nokan Gas from January 29
through February 7." He also said that distributing fuel to
government institutions and parties will now take place on a weekly
basis.

Salahaddin University Will Not Recognize Koya University
Post-Graduate Degrees

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8. (U) According to Aso and Hawlati newspapers, Salahaddin
University in Erbil will not recognize Masters and PhD degrees
earned from the University of Koya. (Note: The University of Koya
is new PUK-run University in Erbil province along the border with
Sulaimaniyah. Salahaddin University in Erbil city has close ties to
the KDP.) A formal letter issued by Salahaddin University denies
the existence of any problems with the Kurdistan Region
universities, especially the University of Koya, but says based on a
vote by the majority of the Salahaddin University Council, the
university has decided to disregard post graduate degrees from the
University of Koya, claiming that they do not meet the scientific
and academic standards.

Commentaries:
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9. (U) PUK-run Kurdistani Nwe newspaper ran an interview with,
Muhammed Ihsan, KRG Minister for Extra-regional Affairs and KRG
representative to the GOI Higher Committee for the Implementation of
Article 140. Ihsan states that any "Arab of Aribization" family in
Kirkuk that objects to returning home should lose the right to vote
in any referendum on the status of Kirkuk. The article says that
Ihsan's statement is supported by the fact that 7,400 Arab families
have already registered for relocation and compensation.


10. (SBU) This media summary is completed by Press and Cultural
Specialist Hama Othman.